Senators weigh in on Duterte’s claim that Filipinos benefited from drug war killings

At least three senators on Tuesday gave different perspectives on President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that the Filipino people benefited from the drug war killings.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, the first Philippine National Police chief who implemented Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, agreed with the President’s statement, saying the drug war is meant for the  sake of more Filipinos.

“I agree with the President's pronouncement. For what reason does this [government] launch a bloody war on drugs if it doesn’t benefit the Filipinos? Who is the [number one] target of the drug lords? Isn’t it the President?” he asked.

Dela Rosa then blamed the opposition for politicking the administration’s campaign against drugs.

“Very unfortunate because politics came into play that resulted to trumped up allegations from the opposition just to get the attention of the international community,” Dela Rosa said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, reiterated the need for a holistic approach in addressing the drug problem in the country.

“Even if you kill all drug dealers and burn all illegal drugs, if there are drug dependents, they will find other substances to abuse. Contact cement, cough syrup, [Nubain], etc. Then new dealers will replace the dead ones. Best is to follow my holistic approach,” Sotto said.

Earlier, Sotto vowed that he will address the drug problem in the country should he win as vice president in the upcoming 2022 elections.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he understands Duterte’s fear that the drug dealers might retaliate against him and his family.

“The President’s fears may be valid. Although, my own experience in law enforcement tells me that criminal offenders that we arrested and sent to jail or the relatives of those we killed in armed encounters mostly accepted their fate as part of the risk that they or their dead relatives took when they decided to violate the laws for whatever motives or reasons,” Lacson said.

He cited a case where a kidnap for ransom suspect who still strikes back at him.

“I said mostly because there were very, very few exceptions. One particular kidnap for ransom suspect convicted by the lower court and spent some time in the national penitentiary before he was  cleared by the [Supreme Court] continues to harbor bitterness towards us while knowing fully well how much participation he had in the crime,” he added.

In his weekly public address, Duterte aired his rants anew against human rights advocates and their criticisms on his administration's anti-drug campaign.

"Sino nakinabang? Kayo! Ang anak ninyo! Ang bayan natin ang nakinabang!" he said.

The President added that he even put his and his family's lives at risk for the sake of the public.

Human rights groups have condemned the alleged extrajudicial killings in connection with Duterte's war on drugs.—AOL, GMA News